100% agree with this sentiment.
While its current iteration is a joke, a stain even, an offense against what it once was, it cannot be denied that World of Warcraft, when looking on the whole at the 18 years and just the base game - is without a doubt one of the most successful and also one of the most defining games of the 21st century and of all time. Even though I am probably not going to be subscribing again unless a miracle happens and I loath it in its current state, I still am beyond happy that I got to play it at all, especially all the way back in mid-TBC and up through into the beginning of Shadowlands. Sure, there were ups and downs, there always are, but this was a very powerful game.
I wholeheartedly respect it and its original creators.